Saturday, November 03, 2007

The PP and the Eastern Orthodox Church

The PP has had a discussion about the Eastern Orthodox Church going on for a couple of days. Reading the PP's comments about the Orthodox Church are humorous, but surely not in an intended way. To see him compare what the Church believes to what he believes as if he is the measure of truth cracks me up. The PP is part of a particular branch of Protestantism, namely, the Reformed Baptist.

Reformed Baptists
There are some prominent Reformed Baptists out there such as zealot James White, of Alpha Omega Ministries. They take Calvinism and combine it with Baptist theology. You might ask how is that even possible? Well, it's certainly an eclectic mix. They toss out Calvin when it comes to sacraments, like infant baptism and follow Anabaptist traditions in that area baptizing people only after making confessions of faith. In the end they necessarily shred Calvin's Covenant Theology which supported his infant baptism views. Yet they hang onto the Calvinistic/Lutheran (as in Luther not Lutheran) ideas about strict predestination even to the point of believing God preselected people to go to Hell.

In the end they are like Grapenuts, neither grape nor nuts. Or maybe just nuts, who knows?

Phoenix Preacher's Pronouncements

Here's the latest gem from the Phoenix Preacher:
The doctrine of justification by faith is the foundation of the church.
Think about that statement. Justification by faith is the foundation of the church, the PP claims. No wonder the critics say Calvinists tie up their view of Calvinism and make it the same as the Gospel. All you have to do is read one to see what they write!

The PP could do well to read the old song, "The Church's One Foundation" or the scripture passage it comes from.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it.
1Co 3:11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.